Hammer having replaceable striking heads



1951 E. N. KINDLAND 2,570,691

HAMMER HAVING REPLACEABLE STRIKING HEADS Filed Jan. 31, 1946 Ee -E ErickN,Kind1an1.

Patented Oct. 9, IQSI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAMMER HAVINGREPLACEABLE STRIKING HEADS Erick N. Kindland, Jamestown, N. Y. IApplication January 31, 1946, Serial No. 644,462

This invention relates to improvements in hammers and more particularlyto those of a general utility type.

In its present form the invention discloses a hammer having a pairofopposed striker heads. These heads are frequently formed either fromsome plastic material .or a soft metal. The striker heads of this typeof hammers, during use, become deformed, worn down or broken and fromtime to time must be replaced. The particular structure in which tomount replaceable striker heads in such a manner that a hammer may serveits intended purpose and replacement of worn-or broken parts readilyeffected constitutes one of the important objects of the invention. Itis also an object of the invention to provide a striker head supportthat is extremely rugged, durable and well balanced. The simplicity ofdesign of the structure of the hammer head support enables economicmanufacture and assures ready replacement of parts that may become worndown or broken in use. An-

other extremely important object of the inven-' tion lies in theprovision of means for effecting easy removal and replacement of a worndown or broken striker head, almost without regard for the worn orbroken condition of such a head. i

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from a consideration of the following specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, and in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of a hammer in which is embodied one form of theinvention, parts being broken away to disclose certain of the structuraldetails;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the hammer, partly in section, and shows one ofthe striker heads and supporting parts in position preparatory toassembly;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the striker head support, parts beingbroken away to dis? close the location of certain of the parts;

- Fig. 4 is a partly exploded transverse sectional view of amodification of the structure shown in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 5 is an elevational view taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partly exploded transverse sectional view of anothermodification of the structure;

' Fig. 7 is an end view of one of the striker heads shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a partial transverse sectional view of a further modificationof the invention, show- 7 Claims. (01. 145-36)- 4 the reference numeralI0 is employed to generallydesignate a utility hammer in which thepresent invention is embodied. The hammer includes a handle II, strikerhead support I2 and a shank I3 which connects the handle with thesupport. Adjacent the support I2 the shank I3 is provided with. areinforcement I4. This reinforcement may take the form of the sleeve inthe drawing and is intended to be rigidly and permanently joined to theshank. The purpose of this reinforcement will be more fully understoodin connection with the description concerning the disassembly of theparts of a com.- plete hammer.

The support I2 in the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusivecomprises a tube or sleeve I6 and in the present disclosure one end ofthe shank I3 projects completely through suitable openings in the tubein a manner to divide the space therewithin into two identicalcompartments generally indicated by the numeral I'I. That portion of theshank engaged with the tube may be welded or otherwise permanentlyattached thereto. Any other conventional method of joining the shank andthe tube may be found satisfactory so long as the parts are rigidly andpermanently connected. Mounted within the tube and resting againstopposite surfaces of that portion of the shank I3 lying within themember, are a pair of disks I8. These disks may be of the nature of thewashers shown or solid as found most suitable. It will be noted thatwith the disks I8 in place within the tube I6 thecompartments I'I arereduced to a depth which is substantially the diameterof the shank I3;This space is intended to be taken up by a pair of filler blocks I9.These blocks may be contoured substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawing. In order that careless use of a hammer embodying this inventionmay not cause a displacement of disksor filler blocks with respect tothe tube I6, these parts may. be rigidly tied together by means of a pin2 I, substantially as shown. This pin, as may be seen in the drawing,projects transversely of the tube I6, being perpendicular to the shankI3. Suitable openings 22 in the walls of the tube I6 align with openings23 in blocks I9. Also an opening 24 is made in the shank I3. When theblocks ,I9' have been located within the member IS, the pin 2| may bedriven into place and serves to hold these parts against displacement.

Striker heads 26 are intended to be mounted in the opposite shallow endsof the tube l6. These heads, as previously mentioned, are formed from asomewhat plastic material such, for example, as soft metal and includea. straight or slightly tapered wall base portion 21. From this baseportion, the head may be slightly tapered as indicated at 28 and thestriking surface formed with a beveled edge 29. It will be understood ofcourse that with the exception of the base 21 the striker head may be ofalmost any desired contour. The base 21 is proportioned to be easilyfitted into the space defined by the tube l6 and disk N3, the bottomsurface of the base 2'! abutting the adjacent surface of a disk.

From the foregoing it is believed the operation of assembling a hammerembodying the invention is fully understood. In use, the striker headsof hammers of this nature become deformed into a mushroom shape with theedges broken or chipped off. At such time as .one or both of the strikerheads shown become unfit for further use, the user of the hammer, inorder to effect removal and replacement, needs merely to grasp thehammer by the handle I I and, with a weighted object, possibly anotherhammer, sharply strike the reinforcement [4 of the handle. These blowsupon the reinforcement produce sufficiently sharp vi.- brations in thetube [6 to dislodge the worn heads from their seats. If, in the processof removal of the worn heads, the disks [8 drop out, they may be readilyreinserted, new heads 26 lightly tapped into place and the hammer isagain ready for use.

The structure shown in Figs. 4 and is a modification of that heretoforeset out. In this instance a striker head support 31 is preferably formedfrom a somewhat thicker Walled tubular section. A handle shank 32 may beattached to the tube in the manner described in connection with themodification of Fig. 1. The interior surface of this support includes aninwardly offset ridge 33. This ridge is of such proportions as toprovide opposed annular seats or ledges 34 facing the open ends of thesupport. To benefit by the fact that the shank 32 projects through thesupport, the ridge 33 may be of a width identical with the diameter ofthe shank. Mounted in the support against the seats 34 are disks [8.Whenthese disks have been placed within the support, the heads 25 may bemounted as heretofore described. In this modification it will be notedtoo, that due to the provision of seats 34, it is possible to reduce thenumber of parts through elimination of the filler blocks (9. While itmay be necessary to insert the filler blocks in striker head supports ofhammers requiring great ruggedness, it i contemplated the structure ofthis modification is sufficiently sturdy to stand up under much of theusage of this type of hammer.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, structure is shown by which to effectmounting a striker head formed from any of several different plasticsubstances. 'Of course, contrary tothe other modifiacations of theinvention shown, this type of plas--- tic head is not subject toexpansion of the base in a manner to constitute the means of secure-.ment. Thus, in this modification it is proposed to form a plastic head36 with permanently attaohed metal base 31. The base 31 is adapted, whenlocated in the recess 38 of the tubular sup port 39, to engage therecess side walls 4| and rest on the seat or ledge 42. Application offorce 4 to the end 43 of the head expands or swells the base 31 intofirm engagement with the recess walls. The handle shank 44 may be joinedto the support 39 as previously described. When it is desired to removeand replace a Worn or damaged head the shank may be sharply struck inthe manner set out above. However, if the support 39 is a solid memberwith the recess 38 formed therein and the handle shank is not adapted tobe struck to effect removal of a head, then it is proposed to formdiametrically opposite openings 46 in the support, substantially asshown in the drawing. These openings facilitate insertion of a drift pinby means of which the heads may be readily inserted.

In Figs. Sand 9 of the drawing a further modification of the inventionis shown. Herein a striker head support 4'! is shown as a solidcylindrical member instead of a tubular structure. A suitable opening 48is drilled transversely of the support and a handle shank 49 mounted inthis opening and secured in any conventional manner. The shank 49,particularly in this type of structure, is preferably formed from wood,partly to meet a long standing purchaser habit, as well as to. givelightness to the hammer. In opposite ends of the support l'iare circularrecesses 5|. depth of these recesses preferably correspond to the depthof therecesses shown in the other modifications following insertion ofdisks 18. Trans;- verse openings .52 are made in diametrically oppositesides ofthe member 47 and extend inwardly thereof a distancesubstantially as indicated in the drawing. Each of these openings is sodis.- posed that it cuts partly into the body of the, member ll to formasemi-circular recess 53 in. the base wall 5.4. of each recess 39. Sincethe support i? isa solid member and the side Walls of the recesses 5|are of considerable thickness, the openings 52 in nowise weaken thestructure... Striker heads 26 are mounted in the opposing re.- cesses 5!in the manner heretofore described.

Following a period of use of a hammer embodying the structure of thismodification, the,

, heads may become deformed and require re-v placement. However,theheads may not be dislodged from their support through tapping a reinforced portion of the shank as was described in connection withtheother modifications. since, the shank in this particular structure isapt to be of wood. To remove the deformed and worn heads, it is merelynecessary to insert. a common drift pin (not shown) in the opening 52and by. tapping this pin lightly thehead Zfiis loosened from its seatwithin therecess 5!. Of course, following removal of the. worn heads,new heads. may be inserted in the recessesfi [1.

Attention is particularly directedto the fact that in the use ofsomewhat soft metalliostriker heads it is possible, when these heads arepro vided with accurately formed bases 21, to insert themby hand in therecesses formed in the head supports and with only a light tapping fitthe bases 21 or 31 against the base walls of the re:

. cesses. These bases at this point in assembly .do

not have truly permanent engagemehtwith the recess walls but on firstuse of thehammer, the bases swell to firmly engage the recess walls. Ofcourse with further use of the. hammerthe engagement between .the baseof each head and the support becomes more positive. In practise it hasbeen found, following'insertion of a striker head, that the hammer needonly be used to give three orfour blows and the base. thereof will haveswelled into such engagement with the walls of The.

the recess in which it is located as to be practically unremovableexcept in the manner shown and described in the present disclosure.

Although applicant has shown and described only a few variations of thestructure of his invention, it will be understood that all of thesevariations or modifications relate to the mounting and removal ofstriker heads in their support in utility hammers and that furthermodifications of the structure shown are contemplated insofar as theymay be within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in theannexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A hammer structure comprising a shank, a striker head support in theform of a tubular member, one end of said shank projecting transverselythrough and being permanently secured to said member, filler blocksadapted to occupy the space in said member adjacent said shank end andcooperating therewith to form a seat, a disk mounted on said seat, saiddisk and a portion of said member cooperating to form an openendedrecess, and a striker head having an end portion adapted to project intosaid recess and engage said disk and the interior walls of said member.

2. A hammer structure comprising a shank, a striker head support in theform of a tubular member, one end of said shank projecting transverselythrough and being permanently secured to said member, means in saidmember cooperating with the shank end to form a seat, other meanpermanently joining said member, shank end and means against relativedisplacement, a disk mounted on said seat, said disk and a portion ofsaid member cooperating to form an open-ended recess, and a striker headhaving an end portion adapted to project into said recess and engagesaid disk and the interior walls of said member.

3. A hammer structure comprising a shank, a striker head support in theform of a tubular member, one end of said shank projecting transverselythrough and being permanently secured to said member, means in saidmember providing an inwardly directed annular ledge in the plane of saidshank, other means engaged with said ledge and shank forming a seat,said other means and the walls of one end of said member cooperating toform a recess open at one end, and a striker head having an endproportioned to project into said recess and engage said other means andthe interior walls of said member.

4. A hammer structure comprising a shank, a striker head support in theform of a tubular member, one end of said shank projecting transverselythrough and being permanently secured to said member, means occupyingspace in said member adjacent said shank and cooperating therewith toform a seat, a disk mounted on said seat, said disk and a portion ofsaid member cooperating to form an open-ended recess, and a striker headhaving an end portion projecting 6 into said recess and engaging saiddisk and the interior walls of said member.

5. A hammer structure comprising a handle and a tubular striker headsupport, a shank connecting said handle with and projecting through saidsupport, means in said support adjacent to and cooperating with saidshank to form a filler for the central portion of said support, furthermeans securing said filler means with respect to said shank and saidsupport, disks abutting 0pposite faces of said filler means, said diskscooperating with said support to form opposed shallow recesses, andstriker heads having end portions adapted to enter said recesses, abutsaid disks and engage the side walls of said support.

6. A hammer structure comprising a handle and a tubular striker headsupport, a shank connecting said handle with and projecting through saidsupport, means in said support adjacent to and cooperating with saidshank to form a fi ler for the central portion of said support, disksabutting opposite faces of said filler means, said disks cooperatingwith said support to form opposed shallow recesses, and striker headshaving end portions adapted to enter said recesses, abut said disks andengage the side walls of said support.

7. A hammer structure comprising a handle and striker head support inthe form of a tubular member having a cylindrical bore, a shankconnecting said handle with said support, means in said member adjacentto and cooperating with said shank to form a filler for the centralportion of said member, further means securing said filer means withrespect to said shank and said member, said filler means cooperatingwith said support to form opposed shallow recesses, and striker headshaving end portions adapted to enter said recesses, abut said filler andengage the side walls of said support.

ERICK N. KINDLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 145,537 Steward Dec. 16, 1873276,247 Howe Apr. 24, 1883 637,158 Prouty Nov. 14, 1899 822,983 RhodaJune 12, 1906 1,122,506 Keating Dec. 29, 1914 1,523,781 Keyes Jan. 20,1925 1,732 985 Peters Oct. 22, 1929 2,306,627 Johansson Dec. 29, 19422,423,189 Honhart July 1, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,424Great Britain July 19, 1882 16,078 Great Britain July 29, 19 8 266,019Germany Oct. 17, 1913 585,716 France Mar. 6, 1925 641,625 France Aug. 7,1928

